The Role and Effort by Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in Consolidation and Determining the Beginning
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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, No. 6 ISSN: 2222-6990 The Role and Effort by Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in Consolidation and Determining the Beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan and EID Celebrations in Indonesia Siti Arinah Ahmad The Centre for Islamic Development Management (ISDEV) Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 Pulau Pinang Shahir Akram Hassan The Centre for Islamic Development Management (ISDEV) Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 Pulau Pinang DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/3057 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/3057 ABSTRACT Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia is the designated agency of the Republic of Indonesia which administer religious affairs of the people in Indonesia. Every year, Muslims in Indonesia will celebrate the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. However, there are some Islamic social organizations in Indonesia which did not conform with the commencement of Ramadan and Eid celebrations as occured in 2010, 2011 and 2015. The question is, what is the role of Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure conformity in celebrating month of worships in Indonesia? Based on authority given to it, what efforts have been done to achieve uniformity among Muslims in celebrating months of worship in Indonesia? This paper was written to unravel on issues related to this matter. There are two main objectives. First, to identify practice procedure by Ministry of Religious Affairs in coordinating the commencement of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Second, to analyze the role and exert efforts in trying to gain uniformity in determining the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. In order to achieve both objectives, a library and field studies were carried out on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia. Results showed that the Ministry of Religious Affairs play the role of a mediator in order to achieve consensus for Muslims in celebrating the start of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Various attempts have been made to achieve this consensus. Among them are forming a special committee discussing ways to unite Muslims in celebrating the start of Ramadan and Eid celebration in Indonesia. This shows that the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia play an important role in achieving consensus in celeberating the start of Ramadan and Eid celebrations throughout the country. 968 www.hrmars.com International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, No. 6 ISSN: 2222-6990 Keywords: Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia; beginning of holy month Ramadan; Eid celebrations INTRODUCTION ‘Falak’, also known as Islamic astronomy is a science that is essential to Muslims to facilitate and boost their confidence when they perform their acts of worship. This science has been practiced since the days of the prophets such as in deciding direction of the kiblat (facing Kaabah), determining time of prayers, ship navigation and many other uses. Indonesia is no exception. It is the largest country in Southeast Asia, with a large population which comprise of multiple races and religions. Thus, Indonesia becomes the world’s attention pertaining to religious affair, be it among fellow Muslims or with others of different religions. In Indonesia, Muslims are formed in a variety of social organizations, political or religious organizations. The large religious organizations are Muhammadiyah established by N.H. Ahmad Dahlan (Amirulloh, 2013:1) and Nahdlatul Ulama, founded by N.H. Hasyim (Samson, 1968). Historically, development in Islamic astronomy in Indonesia began with issue on determining direction of the kiblat (facing kaabah) raised by Sheikh Muhammad Arsyad Al-Banjari. Upon his return from Mecca and Medina, he visited his friend, Sheikh Abdurrahman al-Misri in Jakarta. During his visit, he managed to correct the direction of kiblat in several mosques such as Pakodjan Mosque and Luar Batang Mosque in Jakarta Pasar Ikan (Rustam, 2012). After Sheikh Muhammad Arsyad Al-Banjari generation past, development of Islamic astronomy in Indonesia is pursued by Al-Alim Al-Alamah Sheikh Maulana Muhammad Salman Jalil Al- Banjari, better known as K.H. Salman Jalil or Tuan Guru Salman Jalil. He was dedicated in conveying religious knowledge gleaned from his teachers.Thus, Islamic astronomy is one of the discipline that his acquired. Evidence of his knowledgable in this field can be found through a book that he authored, i.e., Mukhtasar Al-Awqat Fi Ilmi Miqat (Summaries of Time in Science of Place) (Rustam, 2012). Eventhough Islamic astronomical knowledge is growing rapidly, there is a problem that cannot be resolved easily, i.e. conflict to determine the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations among Muslims in Indonesia. In Indonesian history, it has occcured a conflict to set the date to mark the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations among Islamic social organizations. For example in 2010, 2011 and 2015, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama has a conflict over this matter. The question arised, is there any action taken by government appointed body, namely the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia to consolidate these involved Islamic social organizations in determining the date to mark the begining of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr? Is there a practices procedure used by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to determine the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations in Indonesia? What is the role and efforts played by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia? Thus, this paper was carried out with aims to unravel on those issues. There are two main objectives in this paper. First, to 969 www.hrmars.com International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, No. 6 ISSN: 2222-6990 identify practices procedure by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in establishing the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Second, to analyze the role and efforts exert by the Ministry in trying to consolidate the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. In order to achieve the set objectives, this qualitative study involve library research and field study. Library research involved secondary data, obtained from study results of other researchers. Field study involves interview of respondent, i.e. representative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Once the data was collected, all data will be analyzed using content analysis method. The discussion on this paper consist of three parts. First, the background of Ministry of Religious Affairs. Second, practice procedure used by Ministry of Religious Affairs to determine the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Third, the role and efforts exert by the Ministry to consolidate uniformity among Islamic social organizations in determining the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. The first part discusses the background of Ministry of Religious Affairs as a government body that administered the religious affairs of the people of Indonesia. Then, the second part will discuss on practices procedure used by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to determine the beginning of Ramadan and Eid celebrations. The last section discusses the role and efforts exert by Ministry of Religious Affairs to seek consensus in determining months of worship in Indonesia. BACKGROUND OF THE MINISTRY OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIR OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA According to Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (2007), the Ministry, formerly known as Department of Religious Affairs was established on January 3, 1946, about five months after the independence of Republic of Indonesia. This designated body by the government is directly under the authority of the President of Indonesia (Interviews with Nurkhazin on April 20, 2017). Ministry of Religious Affairs not only manage the affairs of Muslims, but also the affairs of people of other religions. According to Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (2007), the jurisdiction of Ministry of Religious Affairs among other is to cater for Muslims in Indonesia, including Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) and Umrah, Halal and Haram (lawful and unlawful according to Islam), Falak (Islamic Astronomy) to determine the date of Eid celebrations and fasting in Ramadan and others matter. As a ministry under the Republic of Indonesia, the vision and mission of Ministry of Religious Affairs was established in 2015. In the Decree of Minister of Religious Affairs, No. 39, 2015, it has been stated that the vision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is as follows: “Creating Indonesian people who adhere to religion, peaceful, intelligent as well as physically and spiritually fit in order to realize Indonesia's sovereign, independent and good personality based on cooperation” (Decree of the Minister of Religion, No. 39, 2015) 970 www.hrmars.com International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017, Vol. 7, No. 6 ISSN: 2222-6990 In order to achieve the stated vision, at least seven missions must be accomplished. First, increase in understanding and practice among followers of a religion. Second, strengthen harmony among religious communities as well as with different religions communities. Third, provide equitable and quality services to all religious life. Fourth, improve utilization and quality management of religious economic potential. Fifth, established a quality and responsible Hajj and Umrah services.